With bright shining eyes, 9-year-old Fernanda Hernandez
disclosed what brought her out to Bonfante Gardens on Saturday’s
opening day of the Hecker Pass park’s fourth season.
”
The Banana-Split ride,
”
the Morgan Hill girl said, and pointed at the giant yellow fruit
contraption that swings screaming patrons back and forth to
dizzying heights.
With bright shining eyes, 9-year-old Fernanda Hernandez disclosed what brought her out to Bonfante Gardens on Saturday’s opening day of the Hecker Pass park’s fourth season.
“The Banana-Split ride,” the Morgan Hill girl said, and pointed at the giant yellow fruit contraption that swings screaming patrons back and forth to dizzying heights.
“I’ve been on it twice,” Hernandez said proudly. “It puts butterflies in my stomach.”
In the shade of the park’s classic merry-go-round, Hernandez’s grandmother Cindy Wilber said the family had bought season passes for the third year in a row “to show support” for Bonfante Gardens.
“We always have fun here,” she said. “I think it’s a really good place for the family.”
A stroll through the park on Saturday afternoon revealed an ample number of adults and children had turned up to enjoy the spring sunshine, tranquil gardens and 19 rides focusing on the South Valley’s farming heritage.
Paramount, which started managing Bonfante Gardens operations last season, would not disclose projected attendance figures for the opening weekend.
Bob Kraemer, president of the park’s board of directors, said he felt pleased by the steady flow of people passing through the entrance gate turnstiles.
“Whatever number (of patrons) was there is good because we opened up three weeks earlier than last year,” he said.
Last year the financially troubled park turned its first profit. This season the board of directors hopes Paramount’s management and marketing will improve attendance and revenue while starting to make good on the $70 million of debt it still owes bondholders and other creditors.
Paramount also runs the Great America theme park in Santa Clara and is selling a season passes that will allow patrons to use both parks. The pass costs $75 for a single purchase or $65 per pass for purchases of four or more.
“We worked well with them both last year, and we expect to work well with them this year on the joint pass,” Kraemer said of Paramount. “I think, in many ways, the last year was when we proved that we could turn positive profitability-wise. And this year we expect significant improvements over last year.”
On radio commercials in the Bay Area and Monterey County, Paramount touts Bonfante Garden’s newest attraction – a 1,500-square-foot bird aviary containing about 350 parakeets, cockatiels and eastern rosellas.
“It’s going to be an interactive aviary,” said Andrew Schleis, an animal trainer in charge of the attraction. “Visitors can feed the birds with seed-sticks they can buy. … This is about as close as you can get to the birds without being in the wild.”
Another source of revenue for Bonfante Gardens playing host to company picnics and corporate meetings, said Nicole Koebrich, public relations manager for Paramount.
A variety of wedding packages also are available in scenic garden sections throughout the park. Options include catering packages, she said.
“We’re just starting to tap into it,” she said. “We have so many people who request it.”
Still, the park’s bread and butter is its visitors.
The Bumgardner family traveled from Grants Pass, Ore., to visit relatives in Sunnyvale as well as spending a day at Bonfante Gardens.
“This was on our list before we got here,” said Rachel Bumgardner, who enjoyed the park on Saturday with her husband Keith and their three daughters Cheyanne, 3, Auna, 11, and Amber. “I like it because there’s a lot of stuff for the little ones.”
Keith Bumgardner said he thought the admission was “a little steep” for the type of rides the park offers.
“It just seems about $10 overpriced,” he said. “But it’s going to a good use, I guess.”
A day-pass to Bonfante Gardens costs $32 for adults and $23 for children ages 3 to 6 and seniors 60 years or older. Special Garden Days when rides are not available cost $12 for adults.
In comparison, the thrill-focused Great America theme park costs $48 for visitors ages 7 to 59, $34 for kids ages 3 to 6 and $40 for seniors 60 years or older.
Admission to the Disneyland theme park in Southern California costs $49.75 for guests more than 10 years old.
Most Bonfante Gardens visitors interviewed on Saturday said they had bought season passes and had children under 10 years.
Geri and Dan Markey, of Los Gatos, brought their daughters Carleen, 4, and Emery, 1, especially for the opening day to see the flowers in full spring bloom.
“It’s great for the kids about 8 years old or younger,” Geri Markey said. “The pass is a good deal.”
She expects to visit the park with her daughters about once a month this season.
However, Markey said she thinks most teenagers would get bored by the park’s more subdued ambiance and thinks Great America – with its thrill rides and pop music concerts – would be more to that age group’s liking.
Two 13-year-old girls disagreed with her opinion. After Kelsey Lee, of Paradise, and her friend Joelle Knowles, of Nagalia, stepped off the Ferris wheel ride, both said they were thoroughly enjoying their first visit to park. Lee’s grandmother drove the two from Vacaville for the day.
“There’s lot to do here,” Knowles said. “The Quicksilver Mines roller-coaster is the best. We’re going on it again later.”
Lee said she thought the Ferris wheel was a bit scary for her.
“I’m afraid of heights,” she said.
“It was fun seeing her scream,” Knowles said with a giggle.
A high percentage of parents pushing strollers or chasing after toddlers could be seen throughout the park on Saturday. Christina Mayer, of Morgan Hill, helped her 2-year-old daughter, Cassie, off a horse on the merry-go-round.
This is the second year Mayer has bought season passes for the park, she said, as her laughing child ran among the flowers.
“It was opening day, so we couldn’t miss it,” she said. “And it’s free for kids under 3. We have to tell them about this the morning of our visit or they get so excited, they don’t sleep.”
